Released in 1978, it remains one of the most popular karaoke tunes ever. Part of the appeal is the fact that everyone knows the chorus, so it’s great for sing-alongs and beginners at karaoke night. The story-song is a genre that’s easy to like, as it has a clear narrative, and the story of a love triangle gone horribly wrong is engaging. And in spite of the rather sad ending, the music is upbeat and fun.

Sam Hunt’s second consecutive single from Montevallo was a powerhouse at karaoke night. Originally released four years ago, it’s the first appearance for Hunt on the Karaoke Top Twenty. The half-spoken delivery may help boost the song’s appeal among karaoke newbies.

Making a leap up seven spots from where it finished last year, it’s the group’s only Number One in the US, and was the biggest selling single in 1983, so it seems their star may still be rising at karaoke night. Worldwide, the single has sold over 5 million copies and topped a total of 17 charts overall. And it’s fun as hell to sing.

“Money can’t buy happiness, but it could buy me a boat.” Now that’s a sentiment any self-respecting scratch-card-buying individual can get behind. And it’s resonating with karaoke audiences – after all, who doesn’t want to win the lottery? Don’t knock it just because this song is about wish-fulfilment. Almost every love song ever written is wish-fulfilment too.

Billy Joel’s entire catalog is enjoying a resurgence. “Uptown Girl” is exactly the kind of happy, hyped-for-the-future sing-along that gets the crowds on the karaoke singer’s side instantly. The song’s protagonist is the ultimate optimist, and anyone listening is immediately carried on the tide of happiness. This is how good times are had.

This song’s been up and down on the charts all year. It finally comes to rest just inside the Top 15. Using the first three guitar chords Ezra ever learned (don’t pretend you can’t tell), it still managed to be a massive hit, in spite of (or perhaps because of) this.

You may think that because this song figures prominantly on virtually every “Worst Song Ever” chart that it would be massively unpopular for karaoke. You’d be wrong. For a song that everyone claims to hate, it sure gets requested at karaoke night. A lot.

Like “Somewhere Over The Rainbow”‘s chart appearance last year, this song benefited from a singular event, in this case, an astronomical (heh) amount of interest in the total eclipse enjoyed in the USA in August of 2017. It should be noted however that Jim Steinman, who wrote and produced the tune, is a master at songcraft. This one is a prime example of his talent. It’s theatrical, bombastic, and builds to a great crescendo, which is perfect for karaoke night divas.

This song shot way up the charts from its previous position last year. Part of a trend we’ve seen in 2017 is an increase in popularity for songs that have positive messaging. This one is a fine example, as a mentor gives advice on a happy life to the listener. It’s good advice, and a great song.

While holiday and seasonal tracks are strong back-catalog, it was a surprise to see it place so highly on the year-end chart. It’s pretty widely accepted as one of the most popular Christmas songs in the repertoire, but this year’s performance is exceptional to say the least. What fun it is to ride and sing a sleighing song tonight!

Another surprise – this one’s longer than the typical karaoke song, though nowhere near “Paradise By The Dashboard Light” territory. This is Joel’s second big score on the chart this year, and it’s not that hard to see why – the sing-along chorus and crowd-pleasing melody is a natural for karaoke night.

This one is tracking quite a bit lower than the Number 2 position that it enjoyed last year. The original featured auto-tuned vocals, which many found annoying, but of course that’s not an issue at karaoke night, unless your local KJ is fully kitted-out. The beat is hard to resist, and it’s fun for two guys to sing together for the luls. Try it.

Boasting and sexual innuendo never seem to go out of style. Everybody knows this one, so it’s a crowd-pleaser, and just as long as the singer doesn’t begin to disrobe during the performance, it’s almost guaranteed to be a ton of fun on a bun.

Positive messaging, as mentioned above, seem to be on a general upswing. This may be due to the current social/political climate, but it’s impossible to fault anyone for wanting to feel good. Karaoke is all about having a great time, and this song is definitely swings that way.

Kind of a sleeper, so its position this high on the chart raised a few eyebrows. It’s good to see country music maintaining a strong presence in karaoke request, and this is another positive message in the face of heartbreak that seems to be powering karaoke selections all over the world this year.